Sunny the Dog Becomes the Best Big Sister! [Roscoe Village Newborn Photo Session]

To say I adore this family would be the biggest understatement! I met Sunny and her mom & dad at the Horner Park Farmer’s Market last spring and we got to talking after our dog’s met. My dog Emmie doesn’t love ALL dogs, but she liked Sunny and it made me quite happy! (It’s so hard to meet people as an adult and I’m so thankful for Emmie, who is often the ice-breaker!) These two are the sweetest and most genuine people I’ve met in a long time. I didn’t get their info at the farmer’s market, but I had Sunny’s name and found her on Instagram later that weekend. No shame here, I tracked her down! When Emmie DOES make friends, we need to keep them close by ;) Thus began our IG friendship! Later that summer, Ali announced Sunny was going to be a big sister & I’d been dying to photograph this gorgeous patch of wild Asters around this time. So, I asked them to model for me for a quick little sunset session, and we got the most amazing sunset. I was honored when they asked me to photograph them at home for baby girl’s newborn photos. I had the best time documenting this adorable little family of four and love watching Sunny shine in her new role. I only wish I could’ve stayed all day with them. Welcome, sweet baby girl. You’ve got the best mom, dad and fur-sister in your corner!

Mr. Oliver's Lifestyle Newborn Session at Home [Lakeview - Chicago, IL]

Repeat clients and families are so much fun for so many reasons. I get to watch your family grow, of course, and already know your kiddos so it makes it a little easier when photographing them. I got to meet Mr. Oliver and see his two big sisters and how much they’ve grown since I last saw them. I photographed his mom’s maternity session when she was pregnant with his older sister who was born in the height of the 2020 pandemic. While we had planned to do newborn photos for her, the world intervened. Miss A was two months old when we did her “newborn” photos but she ended up sleeping like a newborn at the last half of her session. Little brother was the same, even though he was about two weeks new here. He didn’t want to miss anything his big sisters were up to and was so alert, taking in his new world. I LOVE when newborns have their eyes open during their sessions. I feel like I can get a glimpse of who they are. Obviously there’s way less posing involved when they’re this alert, but it’s a trade-off! Oliver eventually did fall asleep for a few minutes at the end of his session so we got the best of both worlds in terms of the newborn photo world. Check out this cutie pie from one of my favorite families in Chicago!

Memorial Pet Sessions

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had them, saying goodbye is never easy, and there isn’t any amount of time with them that’s ever long enough. This I know to be true.

Oof. These are hard. I know they can’t stay forever, but it’s still never easy to let them go. The number of end-of-life/memorial sessions I’ve done this past year, and had inquiries for, breaks my heart. Especially as a mom to a 16-year old geriatric pooch, knowing that my time left with her is limited purely based on her age. It’s given me a greater appreciation for every second I get with Emmie Lou. So much so that I’ll stop what I’m doing at home, SO many times during the day, to go in and peek under the covers to say hi & give some love. She spends most of her days lately under the covers in my bed, and is extremely annoyed when I do this to her but I need her to know how loved she is. It’s quite morbid, but I’ve been dreading the second she goes from the moment I picked her puppy body up in my arms and instantly fell in love. I have a hard time with goodbyes in general, but when it’s someone I love so deeply, it’s hard for me not to think of them being gone. It’s just how I’m wired. But I think that makes me appreciate deeper, and take things less for granted.

Watching these dog parents love on their dogs, often times on their pet’s last day on Earth, never gets easy. Especially as a highly sensitive person that feels everything deeeeeeply. But I truly appreciate the fact that I’m able to give these moments to fellow dog parents. My hope is that the photos will comfort you after they’re gone, helping to heal the giant hole they leave behind. I’ll love on your fur baby hard, I’ll hug you tight when I leave, and check in on you afterward. Your pets will squeeze their way into my heart, just like yours, and I’ll tell their story of love and joy. They were here. They were loved. They are your family. They will always be remembered. They make our lives better just by existing. Telling their story through photos is the best way to honor them.